Freeport-area libraries look to keep up with demand for e-books

FREEPORT — Some Illinois librarians say they are struggling to keep up with the demand for e-reader versions of popular books.

By Jane Lethlean

Journal Standard

By Jane Lethlean

Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 8, 2013 at 7:01 AM

By Jane Lethlean

Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 8, 2013 at 7:01 AM

FREEPORT — Some Illinois librarians say they are struggling to keep up with the demand for e-reader versions of popular books.

That’s because getting a single copy of an e-book for borrowers in libraries can cost upward of $85 — more than six times the cost for someone to buy a Kindle edition of the same book on Amazon.com.

In northwest Illinois, most of the libraries are part of a consortium called Online Media of Northern Illinois, a website that helps Illinois libraries provide e-readers with book options to download to a computer device.

“We purchase together through the OMNI library system to get better deals on books for our patrons,” said Pat Vorwald, adult services supervisor at Freeport Public Library. “We have about 600 to 700 checkouts each month from our patrons through this system. We started the e-reader options two years ago. We are part of 80 other libraries in the system that allows us e-book options. Without the consortium, there is no way we could be able to purchase what we need for this library.”

The problem many libraries faced was publishers were setting a high price for some of the titles, making it hard for some libraries to enter the e-book publishing world.

“We do pay more for our books than the public does, but it is a minimal part of our budget, which allows for us to stay up with technology, offer the books our readers are looking for, but we couldn’t do this without being part of the consortium. With OMNI, our readers have options of almost 10,000 titles,” Vorwald said.

With the OMNI system through Freeport Public Library, only current library card holders are able to download e-books to their readers. This is done by visiting

“To the Freeport patron, this is a free book service, a service provided through local tax dollars,” Vorwald added.

Area libraries

Dixie Althoff is the director at Lena Community Library, which currently doesn’t have e-reader options for patrons. Althoff said she and the board have plans to join the OMNI system, which will cost the library $1,500 a year. The Freeport Public Library pays $3,000 a year to be part of OMNI. Price is based on population.

Althoff said she hopes to have the Lena library part of the consortium by next month.

“We want to get the service for our patrons,” Althoff said. “All libraries are just trying to do what they can to keep up with demand and technology.”

Jenny Carter, director of the Warren Public Library, said the library has been part of the OMNI consortium since October.

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“The word is catching on here,” Carter said. “It’s just another service our library can offer. Our patrons can do it from their Smartphones from their home. We have people who prefer that, and I didn’t think the cost to join OMNI was bad for our small library.”